Firstly, I was surprised that she was quite philosophical about the whole incident. The boy was about to attack another boy with a stick, and she stepped between them and became the new target of the attacker.
She discovered later that the boy had ‘issues’ and she was not seeking counselling or allowing the assault to dampen her desire to become a teacher.
Secondly, apart from the attacker being a five-year-old, I was puzzled by the school’s advice to the woman. They gave her a stern warning never to put herself in danger again by trying to protect a student in the line of fire.
It reminded me of my experience early in my career as an AFL umpire, when we were encouraged to race into packs and break up fights and separate angry players.
Later when I became the League Umpire Adviser, I ordered the panel that in the event of a melee they should never enter the fray, but stand out of harm’s way and write down the names of any offending players.
After the brawl had subsided, they should then send the offending players off the field and then report them to the League Tribunal.
For better or worse, the safety of my umpires had to trump the safety of the players in the brawl.
I told the woman that I admired her desire to protect a vulnerable child. Any good samaritan would do the same! I asked her whether she had been given guidance on handling such incidents by her university lecturers. She said her course was largely theoretical and students were expected to learn such strategies during placements.
I wondered how many universities include in their curricula sound, practical advice on surviving in the classroom.
I wonder how many universities employ some seasoned classroom teachers rather than only highly qualified academics to teach education courses.
Meanwhile back at the chalklface, I wonder how schools are coping with what now appears to be a daily occurrence of assaulted teachers.
My solution thirty years ago was that every school have an annexe, staffed by well-trained experienced teachers.
Any student who manifested anti-social behaviour, whether it be bullying or assaulting teachers or students, or continually disrupting the learning of others, would be committed to the annexe, and remain there until their behaviour improved, such that they could be re-admitted, on probation, back to their classroom.
Behaviour modification would be an intrinsic part of the time in the annexe, along with tailored subject assignments.
Private schools have the luxury of expelling such miscreants, although in the many private schools I have visited, there is still evidence of similar anti-social behaviour.
My proposal would require extra funding, but if we seriously care about the welfare and safety of our teachers and students, it would be money well spent.
